Tracing the origins of the STEM gender gap: The contribution of childhood spatial skills
Tracing the origins of the STEM gender gap: The contribution of childhood spatial skills
复制标题
追踪 STEM 性别差距的根源：童年空间技能的贡献
DOI：
10.1111/desc.13302
复制
发表时间：
2023
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Gunderson, Elizabeth A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Tian, Jing;Ren, Kexin;Newcombe, Nora S.;Weinraub, Marsha;Vandell, Deborah Lowe;Gunderson, Elizabeth A.
尽管取得了一些进展，但妇女在许多科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的代表性仍然不足。使用1991年出生的690名参与者的国家纵向数据集，我们测试了在童年中期测量的空间技能是否有助于解释这种性别差距。我们模拟了四年级空间技能和STEM专业之间的关系，同时考虑了竞争的认知和动机机制。四年级的强大空间技能直接增加了选择STEM大学专业的可能性，超越了数学成绩和动机，口头成绩和动机以及家庭背景。此外，四年级的空间技能通过数学成绩和动机间接预测了STEM专业的选择。此外，我们的研究结果表明，四年级空间技能的性别差异导致STEM专业的女性代表性不足。我们发现，在考虑了多种认知和动机机制后，四年级的空间技能直接预测了STEM大学的专业选择。四年级的强大空间技能也通过提高数学成绩和动机来提高STEM专业的选择。四年级空间技能的性别差异导致了STEM大学专业的女性代表性不足。
Despite some gains, women continue to be underrepresented in many science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Using a national longitudinal dataset of 690 participants born in 1991, we tested whether spatial skills, measured in middle childhood, would help explain this gender gap. We modeled the relation between 4th‐grade spatial skills and STEM majors while simultaneously accounting for competing cognitive and motivational mechanisms. Strong spatial skills in 4th grade directly increased the likelihood of choosing STEM college majors, above and beyond math achievement and motivation, verbal achievement and motivation, and family background. Additionally, 4th‐grade spatial skills indirectly predicted STEM major choice via math achievement and motivation in the intervening years. Further, our findings suggest that gender differences in 4th‐grade spatial skills contribute to women's underrepresentation in STEM majors.Research HighlightsUsing a national longitudinal dataset, we found 4th‐grade spatial skills directly predicted STEM college major choice after accounting for multiple cognitive and motivational mechanisms.Strong spatial skills in 4th grade also elevated STEM major choice via enhanced math achievement and motivation in the intervening years.Gender differences in 4th‐grade spatial skills contributed to women's underrepresentation in STEM college majors.